Faith and Business 101: Balancing Family and Work

Thanks for the comments this past week! I want to start by responding to Melissa’s question about balancing family and work. How do we be attentive moms and still work? What should our priorities be? We talked about Priorities & Planning a few weeks back, but let’s go a little deeper here. What does this look like in everyday life? I must admit to you all again, that this is a huge struggle for me. One that I need to be held accountable for constantly. I realize this is a weakness of mine, so I have some serious accountability and guidelines set up for this reason.

Here is my own personal action plan:

1. Commit each day to the Lord. My desire is to begin each morning in prayer that I would die to myself and complete only the tasks that God would have me do. No more and no less.

Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?” Matthew 16:24 MSG

2. Accountability. My accountability partner asks me each week if I am sticking to my schedule. Go back to the Priorities & Planning post to see what I’m talking about.

3. Quality Time. I make sure I spend quality time with my son and husband every day. We have some structured play time, some free play and, of course, dinner and family time.

4. Quality Work. After I’ve given my son my undivided attention, he usually feels loved and attended to so much that he is happy to play and entertain himself for awhile as I start some projects. I save the important tasks that require my complete attention for nap time. If your kids are too old for naps or are not accustomed to this, its time to enforce “quiet time” for at least an hour or two every day. Send the kids off to play or read quietly while you work. Let them know they cannot interrupt unless it’s a real emergency (define this for them!). Have rewards and consequences in place and this will work. I have many friends who are successfully getting work done because of “quiet time” rules in their home.

What happens when I don’t stick to my action plan?

1. I’m stressed
2. My son and husband are unhappy
3. My work isn’t the best it could be
4. My son doesn’t sleep as well at night when we don’t have quality family time before bed
5. My relationship with God feels out of whack.

These are all huge motivators for me to stick with my plan! What about you?

Here’s your Faith and Business 101 assignment for this week: Come up with an action plan that works for you and your family. Set up guidelines and accountability so that you can stick with it. It might take weeks or months to find out what works at your house, but it is well worth the effort. Remember, your family comes first! If things feel “off” at home, take the time you need away from work and attend to your family.

Until Next Time…

MariLee

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